Champville: This Is Not How a Champion Should Fall

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Champville Maristes is not just another basketball club. This is a championship-winning organization, a team that lifted the Lebanese title in 2012 and was once synonymous with pride, identity, and competitiveness. Today, that same club is standing on the edge of relegation to Division 2. Let that sink in.

What we are witnessing is not bad luck. It is not coincidence. It is not “just a tough season.” It is the direct result of years of disastrous administrative decisions, stubbornness, and complete detachment from reality.

The roster that remains today is clearly not good enough. Everyone can see it. And yet, the administration — led by Ibrahim Mnassa — continues to insist on refusing the return of Lebanese players who left because of decisions HE personally took. You cannot push players away, burn bridges, then act surprised when the squad collapses.

Let’s be very honest:

If you do not have the budget to build a competitive Division 1 team, there is no shame in playing Division 2. None.

What IS shameful is pretending to be a first-division club while offering fans a product that disrespects the game, the players, and the supporters.

Some people seem to believe that Lebanese players will suddenly “fight harder” in relegation battles. That is fantasy. Players fight for projects. Players fight for organizations that respect them. Players fight for administrations that show seriousness. When an administration shows contempt toward basketball culture and its fanbase, the fanbase will return the same energy.

The situation is now extremely simple and extremely dangerous:

• If Batroun win one more game, they move ahead of Champville

• Champville would then be forced into a relegation playoff against Tadamon Hrajel

• The loser goes straight to Division 2

From Lebanese champions to fighting for survival.

This alone should be enough to trigger an emergency response.

But instead of accountability, we continue to see denial. Arrogance. Silence. And an unbelievable level of stubbornness.

There is an Arabic saying: “No tree grows to the sky.”

Every reign ends. Every illusion eventually collapses.

The time has come for Ibrahim Mnassa and any similar administrations who are actively dragging their clubs downward to step aside. If you do not want to build. If you do not want to invest. If you do not want to respect basketball and its people — then leave.

Let others try.

Because what is happening today at Champville is not rebuilding.

It is not transition.

It is destruction.

And the saddest part? A historic club is paying the price.

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